Hi,

I recently bought a boat which has a Sole Mini-10 10HP diesel on board. I couldn't test the engine at the time I purchased it. It's now been to the mechanic and they advised the heat exchanger is heavily corroded due to the coolant not being changed for a very long time. They got it started but recommended not trying to fix the engine as a new heat exchanger would be about $3000 and by the time it was all installed and the engine serviced the cost would be about $6000 and therefore I'd be better off getting a new engine. They also mentioned the head and oil coolers might have suffered too.

I'm wondering if I could fit some kind of cheap non-standard heat exchanger that is not expensive to test whether the engine may worth saving? Otherwise if anyone has any ideas on getting an engine in the boat without significant expense. I've considered fitting an outboard but the mechanic also advised I'd probably be disappointed . It's a Roberts 25.

It would seem to me if your engine has good compression and no other really obvious issues then there would be no need to go through the hassle of replacing it. Generally speaking always compression test an engine before you waste money on other stuff, if it's within spec just get the heat exchanger.
I may be wrong but it sounds like " your cars radiator is corroded so you need a new engine?", fill me in here if I'm wrong but I couldn't imagine a heat exchanger would be 6k fitted to a little 10hp motor?

HG02 said..
You could try Mark at Luxford marine in Mornington Vic nice bloke
luxfords.com.au/

As Ramona said a keel cooler could be made up
I should have explained probably Mark sell a couple of different brands of heat exchange's
Or as Ramona said a keel cooled could be made cheaply
If the motor started it would appear to have compression so it may be only a few minor things to make it reliable.
Id find a few different opinions as far as the motor condition go .
Maybe if you got your hands a little dirty you could learn a few things plus you get to know your boat .
iIll have a look on the net for a engine manual


boatdiesel.com/Engines/Sole/Sole.cfm
half way down the page is data for the sole 10 you need to register to down load it reg is free

Trek said..


My first reaction would be $3000!!!! rubbish.

It would seem the mechanic is relying on your lack of diesel engine knowledge to sting you.

Unless its a weird engine with strange heat exchanger theres nothing special about them.

I would

1. Find another mechanic (as correctly advised above)
2 Look for a replacement heat exchanger on the net (boatparts.com etc)
3. If no go, look for one that can be adapted. ie. Look at the mating of the inlet and outlet pipes.
4. Consider dumping the heat exchanger completely and using salt water in and out. Not an ideal solution but better than throwing out a good motor. You could get years from it.

Theres more sharks in the Australian marine industry than in the Pacific.

Theres more sharks in the Australian marine industry than in the Pacific.